YA LGBT Books discussion
Tales told - a.k.a free reads
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Valentines Day Challenge
I think I'm going to try this, though since I'm in the middle of preparing to move I don't know if I'll get it done in time. But I'm going to try.
Jo wrote: "I think I'm going to try this, though since I'm in the middle of preparing to move I don't know if I'll get it done in time. But I'm going to try."Bad Jo, Bad! I know you, you'll end up turning it into a full length story. =P
Ralph wrote: "Jo wrote: "I think I'm going to try this, though since I'm in the middle of preparing to move I don't know if I'll get it done in time. But I'm going to try."Bad Jo, Bad! I know you, you'll end u..."
Hush Ralph--no deterring the authors from writing us little gems=:)
Ralph, I will not! :P I'm going to do just a nice, short little story. Very short. Without much length. Short. Of course, that doesn't rule out a novel follow-up later on...
Ijust finished JP Barnaby's LITTLE BOY LOST series and now I'm reading LIFE LESONS by Jo Ramsey. I'm a book reading little bugger. :)Randy
Okay mine's finished but I think it's too early to post it.
Lord, by Valentine's day I'll have read 7 or 8 more books!Randy
I'm going for this too; got my other Valentine's story done, (finally with some gnashing of teeth about MS Word) - the length will be the challenge. Not sure I've ever gone that short.
Kaje wrote: "I'm going for this too; got my other Valentine's story done, (finally with some gnashing of teeth about MS Word) - the length will be the challenge. Not sure I've ever gone that short."i really liked this--I went just a hair over the 1000--that was a huge challenge and I don't write near the volume you do!!! I think I will wait until at least Feb.1 to post it though.
I was surprised, the writing went really quickly--LOL--that probably means it sucks but oh well--you guys are always understanding...and what better way to ensure friendship than to inflict sucky writing on everyone!!!
Sammy2006 wrote: "I was surprised, the writing went really quickly--LOL--that probably means it sucks but oh well--you guys are always understanding...and what better way to ensure friendship than to inflict sucky writing on everyone!!!..."
For me, flowing fast is usually a good sign. I look forward to it. Did the original instructions say not to post until the 14th?
I suppose I ought to say, yes, I will be doing the challenge..... :o)The length is part of the fun - and I know in my completely obsessive way as usual I shall spend a lot of time making it exactly 1000 words! (I've done several 300 and 500 word drabbles in the past, so I should be able to do this length)
Sammy - definatley no posting before the day! It will give those of us with unromantic other halves or no other halves something to look forward to!
Kaje wrote: "Sammy2006 wrote: "I was surprised, the writing went really quickly--LOL--that probably means it sucks but oh well--you guys are always understanding...and what better way to ensure friendship than ..."No---but it is supposed to be for Valentines--you know I want to post this right?--like a doggone kid in a candy shop--i had fun writing it so of course I want others to have fun reading it---like my humility there??--you didn't miss it did you?--I know it went by in a fleetingly rare moment--LOL!!! Assuming others will have fun reading it---ah, the boldness of my assumptions stagger even me=:)
Sammy2006 wrote: "Kaje wrote: "Sammy2006 wrote: "I was surprised, the writing went really quickly--LOL--that probably means it sucks but oh well--you guys are always understanding...and what better way to ensure fri..."We will all have to hang in there for the day, for reading and for posting fun. (I think I'm not even going to write mine for a couple of weeks, lest I go crazy for the same reason ;)
K wrote: "I suppose I ought to say, yes, I will be doing the challenge..... :o)The length is part of the fun - and I know in my completely obsessive way as usual I shall spend a lot of time making it exa..."
Ahhh TYRANT--I shout!!!! LOL!
Alex wrote: "I think so... I'm still writing mine but I've had another idea! Does it have to be a short story or can it be an extract?"Hi sweet boy!! Mine is kind of that--an extract of what could be a longer work...hmmm...now that's an idea!
K wrote: "I suppose I ought to say, yes, I will be doing the challenge..... :o)The length is part of the fun - and I know in my completely obsessive way as usual I shall spend a lot of time making it exa..."
how are you K? holding up ok?
Sammy2006 wrote: "Hi sweet boy!! Mine is kind of that--an extract of what could be a longer work...hmmm...now that's an idea!..."
Yes, go for it. Both a distraction from posting now, and a way to keep busy while home alone. And we'd get something fun out of it (or send it to Featherweight if you like the result :)
Alex wrote: "Oh, I can do THAT! A short story never agrees with me though"put the extract here and post the whole thing on your profile so we can read it.
Kaje wrote: "Sammy2006 wrote: "Hi sweet boy!! Mine is kind of that--an extract of what could be a longer work...hmmm...now that's an idea!..."
Yes, go for it. Both a distraction from posting now, and a way t..."
you are so kind to think my work good enough to publish!!!
Alex wrote: "I could never get published... :( Still, I'm entering a compition with school for poetry"You are going to be published. I have no doubts. Not yet, but the core of the work is there. Unless you get bored or busy (as I did) it will happen.
Self confidence is terrific! I use to write poetry back in my younger days.Randy
Sammy2006 wrote: "Ahhh TYRANT--I shout!!!! LOL! "And proud of it!
My parents didn't go round telling people my middle name was bossyboots when I was a child for nothing!
You'll just have to do the poll for the feb monthly challenge so we can all start on those stories too :o)
Thank you, I have been distracted wonderfully by some very good friends - including a midnight trip to the cinema and then dinner out this evening....
Alex wrote: "Okey dokes, then... :) Self confidence!!!!!"Yep. But the big thing is just to keep writing. It's good that you are sharing your work, and getting feedback. Consider putting stuff away for a month or six, and then reading it cold and seeing what still works and what doesn't.
And best of luck with the poetry contest.
K wrote: "Sammy2006 wrote: "Ahhh TYRANT--I shout!!!! LOL! "And proud of it!
My parents didn't go round telling people my middle name was bossyboots when I was a child for nothing!
You'll just have to..."
so lovely and so glad for you!
Alex wrote: "Thanks for the advice, I'll use it... And I hope it goes well too!"write young man write!
Kaje wrote: "Yep. But the big thing is just to keep writing. It's good that you are sharing your work, and getting feedback. Consider putting stuff a..."That's the bit where I fall down... I am always really nervous sharing my writing with anyone outside my immeidate set of beta readers... you have no idea what it takes in the way of nagging by them to get me to put the monthly challenge stories up
K wrote: "That's the bit where I fall down... I am always really nervous sharing my writing with anyone outside my immeidate set of beta readers... you have no idea what it takes in the way of nagging by them to get me to put the monthly challenge stories up..."
We're glad you do it, and you can't get a much safer venue than this for posting stuff.
K wrote: "Kaje wrote: "Yep. But the big thing is just to keep writing. It's good that you are sharing your work, and getting feedback. Consider putting stuff a..."That's the bit where I fall down... I ..."
ah please write AND post. I know I am not alone in saying I would love to read your work!
So that thing about waiting a week or two - you all knew that wasn't going to happen right? Finished mine, except now I have to do a major trimming since even with trying my very best to be brief, I ended up at 1700. But I have two weeks now to trim it down.
Kaje wrote: "So that thing about waiting a week or two - you all knew that wasn't going to happen right? Finished mine, except now I have to do a major trimming since even with trying my very best to be brief,..."HA!!! You better trim--I MADE myself stop at 1028 or close--so trim Sensei trim!
Sammy2006 wrote: "HA!!! You better trim--I MADE myself stop at 1028 or close--so trim Sensei trim!..."
*pout* you're mean. Pretty please can I buy a few hundred extra words??? Actually this will probably be good for me.
Kaje wrote: "Sammy2006 wrote: "HA!!! You better trim--I MADE myself stop at 1028 or close--so trim Sensei trim!..."
*pout* you're mean. Pretty please can I buy a few hundred extra words??? Actually this wil..."
NO--(doggone it where's that whip thingy Cheryl always finds!)
You must edit--edit I say!...MHAHAHA...*Wheeze, cough*
*Sammy goes away muttering...geez this evil moderator/dictator stuff takes a lot out of ya!*
Tra la la... so my first attempt might just have to be scrapped for this challenge and used elsewhere as I got a gnats carried away... and unfinished it's currently well over 2000 words....Must try harder!!
K wrote: "Tra la la... so my first attempt might just have to be scrapped for this challenge and used elsewhere as I got a gnats carried away... and unfinished it's currently well over 2000 words....Must..."
See Sammy, mine is shorter than hers. That means it's okay right?
Kaje wrote: "K wrote: "Tra la la... so my first attempt might just have to be scrapped for this challenge and used elsewhere as I got a gnats carried away... and unfinished it's currently well over 2000 words....."EDIT. No cheating!!!!! LOL!
Cheryl wrote: ""LOL - I'm on it. An hour to write 2000 words, two weeks to remove half of them. Sounds about right.
Kaje wrote: LOL - I'm on it. An hour to write 2000 words, two weeks to remove half of them. Sounds about right."An hour! blimey... now i can type at 80 words a minute, sadly when writing fiction my brain doesn't quite go that fast, or it does, but in stupid fits and starts that means working for an hour at a time never happens...
Randy wrote: "Just read a great book
Randy"
Hey there dear man. Be careful about books that you post. Remember this is YA and we need to keep it pg. Thanks Randy!
I type about 70-80 words per minute when I am writing...I can't always focus for more than a few minutes at a stretch, but there are times I stay on it for half an hour or more. During Word Wars with some friends, I did 1000 words in fifteen minutes a couple times. Then again, there are times when I work on a story for the entire day and barely manage 1000 words...
Haven't started on the challenge story yet, but I think it's going to be my next "day off" task.
Jo wrote: "I type about 70-80 words per minute when I am writing...I can't always focus for more than a few minutes at a stretch, but there are times I stay on it for half an hour or more. During Word Wars wi..."For me the story comes out about about as fast as I can type, with only occasional pauses. If I typed faster than 50 words a minute I'd be more productive (or if I didn't have to look at the keyboard while doing it. I keep swearing I'm going to learn real touch typing, but I'm just fast enough without to make it less essential.)
There are some things that just don’t mix with the pink and fluffy associated with St Valentine’s day .. like, Satan, demons, or Death himself… but, what if, just this year, they did....
What happened when the Devil got hit by one of cupid’s arrows? Who did send Death that box of expensive chocolates? Why is Mephistopheles blushing every time a certain young imp squeaks excitedly about the card he’s received? Can a bunch of black roses grown in the back corner of hell tempt a human to love a demon, or will the demon be the one taking the plunge into humanity?
The challenge, should you choose to accept it… write a short story, with an LGBT theme, and a maximum of 1000 words, to fit the title.
There are no prizes, anyone who wishes to join in shout Aye! Stories should be posted on the thread on or after 14th February 2012 (in your own time zone)
Also, the story must be suitable for young adult readers.